Measuring WBCs

• The Basics
• Reactive
• Terms

• Acute Leukemia
• Dysplasia
• Myeloproliferative

• Acute
• Chronic  

Quiz Please

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma are morphologically and phenotypically indistinguishable.
• These two conditions differ only with respect to the degree of peripheral blood lymphocytosis . 
• For the diagnosis of CLL it takes an absolute peripheral lymphocyte count of >4,000.

 

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is seen mostly in older adults and is the most common leukemia in the US.
• The lymphoma side of this coin, small lymphocytic lymphoma, is not very common and represents only about 4% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
• Neither condition is very common in Asian countries.
• The tumor cells are small mature appearing lymphocytes.
• Express B-cell markers; CD19 and CD20
• Plus on T-cell marker, CD5.
• Malignant cells often have IgM on their surface.
• Some patients even have a small gamma "spike."
• Cells are fragile. They rupture when making the blood smear, producing a purple blob called a "smudge cell."
• Splenic white pulp and liver portal tracts are sometimes involved.